Suffolk Agricultural Association
Analysis
Suffolk Agricultural Association is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Ipswich. It was registered in March 1984, 42 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, environment/conservation/heritage and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01775897). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending September 2025, Suffolk Agricultural Association reported income of £4.3m and spending of £3.7m, spending 88% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £915k to £4.3m (+365%), an average of +47% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2022, when income rose by 226%. Over the whole period it spent 108% of the income it received.
Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Suffolk Agricultural Association sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Sea Life Trust Limited (£4.2m), Banc D'arguin, and Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Trust Fund Limited (£4.3m) and Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust (Holdings) Limited (£4.2m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 50%, trading 31%, donations and legacies 5.7% and investments 3.2%. Charitable activities took 76% of spending and raising funds 24%. Reserves of £210k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 50 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 5.7%
- Charitable activities 50%
- Trading 31%
- Investments 3.2%
- Other 10%
In the charity's own words
To promote and encourage the advancement and improvement of agriculture through development of skills,techniques or research,the dissemination of such and research both as to the methods of husbandry and use of science and the use and development of agricultural implements and machinery.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Life Trust Limited | London | £4.2m |
| Banc D'arguin, and Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Trust Fund Limited | Oxford | £4.3m |
| Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust (Holdings) Limited | North Yorkshire | £4.2m |
| Centre for Alternative Technology Charity Limited | Machynlleth | £4.3m |